Deir El Ahmar Pilot Project
Located in the Bekaa Valley, Deir El Ahmar is our most comprehensive pilot — covering all three intervention areas. Our field team is actively mapping families across food, education, and healthcare needs.
3
Planned programs
2+
Parish partners
Bekaa
Region
About the Area
Deir El Ahmar is a predominantly Christian town in the western Bekaa Valley. It has historically been a tight-knit community of farmers, tradespeople, and civil servants — many of whom have seen their livelihoods collapse as Lebanon's economy unraveled. The local currency crisis wiped out savings, pensions, and salaries overnight.
The Bekaa Valley is one of Lebanon's most economically distressed regions. Deir El Ahmar's Christian families face compounding crises: food insecurity, school dropouts, and elderly residents who cannot afford basic medicine. The presence of active local churches and community leaders makes it an ideal pilot location for a trust-based aid model.
Phase 1 Activities
A broader, more complex pilot — all three intervention areas are being assessed simultaneously.
Early 2025
Parish Coordination Established
Close collaboration initiated with the local Maronite and Greek Orthodox parishes in Deir El Ahmar. Church leaders have confirmed their willingness to serve as trusted partners in beneficiary identification.
Ongoing
Christian Activist Network
Engagement with a network of local Christian social activists who have been informally supporting vulnerable families. Their on-the-ground knowledge is invaluable for accurate needs mapping.
Ongoing
Multi-Sector Needs Assessment
Unlike Jbeil, Deir El Ahmar presents needs across all three program areas — food, education, and healthcare. Field interviews with families are being conducted to document and prioritise cases.
Ongoing
Beneficiary Register — In Progress
A structured beneficiary list is being compiled, recording each family's name, size, location, primary needs, and urgency level. This register will guide aid deployment once funding is confirmed.
Ongoing
School Dropout Mapping
A specific sub-assessment is underway to identify children who have dropped out of school or are at risk of dropping out due to their families' inability to pay fees. These children will be prioritised in the education program.
Planned Interventions
Deir El Ahmar is our only pilot covering all three CGA programs.
Food Security
Monthly food baskets targeting families with zero or near-zero income.
Education Support
School fee coverage and supply kits for children at risk of dropping out.
Elderly Healthcare
Regular home visits, medicine delivery, and medical referrals for isolated elderly Christians.
“
In our village, we know who is suffering. We just never had someone willing to listen — and to act. Christians Global Aid is different. They came here, they sat with us, and they took notes. That alone gave us hope.
Father Georges
Parish Priest, Deir El Ahmar
Be Part of This Story
Deir El Ahmar is ready. Our field team is on the ground. Your donation turns our plans into deliveries, and our names into faces fed, children kept in school, and elderly lives dignified.